Sirach 11

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 The poor man's wisdom lifts his head high and sets him among princes.	1 Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.
2 Praise not a man for his looks; despise not a man for his appearance.	2 Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward appearance.
3 Least is the bee among winged things, but she reaps the choicest of all harvests.	3 The bee is little among such as fly; but her fruit is the chief of sweet things.
4 Mock not the worn cloak and jibe at no man's bitter day: For strange are the works of the LORD, hidden from men his deeds.	4 Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of honour: for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works among men are hidden.
5 The oppressed often rise to a throne, and some that none would consider wear a crown.	5 Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never thought of hath worn the crown.
6 The exalted often fall into utter disgrace; the honored are given into enemy hands.	6 Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and the honourable delivered into other men's hands.
7 Before investigating, find no fault; examine first, then criticize.	7 Blame not before thou hast examined the truth: understand first, and then rebuke.
8 Before hearing, answer not, and interrupt no one in the middle of his speech.	8 Answer not before thou hast heard the cause: neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk.
9 Dispute not about what is not your concern; in the strife of the arrogant take no part.	9 Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and sit not in judgment with sinners.
10 My son, why increase your cares, since he who is avid for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you run after it, you will never overtake it; however you seek it, you will not find it.	10 My son, meddle not with many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou shalt not be innocent; and if thou follow after, thou shalt not obtain, neither shalt thou escape by fleeing.
11 One may toil and struggle and drive, and fall short all the more.	11 There is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind.
12 Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery-- Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust,	12 Again, there is another that is slow, and hath need of help, wanting ability, and full of poverty; yet the eye of the Lord looked upon him for good, and set him up from his low estate,
13 Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many.	13 And lifted up his head from misery; so that many that saw from him is peace over all the
14 Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the LORD.	14 Prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches, come of the Lord.
15 Wisdom and understanding and knowledge of affairs, love and virtuous paths are from the LORD.	15 Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the law, are of the Lord: love, and the way of good works, are from him.
16 Error and darkness were formed with sinners from their birth, and evil grows old with evildoers.	16 Error and darkness had their beginning together with sinners: and evil shall wax old with them that glory therein.
17 The LORD'S gift remains with the just; his favor brings continued success.	17 The gift of the Lord remaineth with the ungodly, and his favour bringeth prosperity for ever.
18 A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is his allotted reward:	18 There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this his the portion of his reward:
19 When he says: "I have found rest, now I will feast on my possessions," He does not know how long it will be till he dies and leaves them to others.	19 Whereas he saith, I have found rest, and now will eat continually of my goods; and yet he knoweth not what time shall come upon him, and that he must leave those things to others, and die.
20 My son, hold fast to your duty, busy yourself with it, grow old while doing your task.	20 Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in thy work.
21 Admire not how sinners live, but trust in the LORD and wait for his light; For it is easy with the LORD suddenly, in an instant, to make a poor man rich.	21 Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.
22 God's blessing is the lot of the just man, and in due time his hopes bear fruit.	22 The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly, and suddenly he maketh his blessing flourish.
23 Say not: "What do I need? What further pleasure can be mine?"	23 Say not, What profit is there of my service? and what good things shall I have hereafter?
24 Say not: "I am independent. What harm can come to me now?"	24 Again, say not, I have enough, and possess many things, and what evil shall I have hereafter?
25 The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.	25 In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.
26 For it is easy with the LORD on the day of death to repay man according to his deeds.	26 For it is an easy thing unto the Lord in the day of death to reward a man according to his ways.
27 A moment's affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; when a man dies, his life is revealed.	27 The affliction of an hour maketh a man forget pleasure: and in his end his deeds shall be discovered.
28 Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.	28 Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children.
29 Bring not every man into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty one;	29 Bring not every man into thine house: for the deceitful man hath many trains.
30 Though he seem like a bird confined in a cage, yet like a spy he will pick out the weak spots.	30 Like as a partridge taken [and kept] in a cage, so is the heart of the proud; and like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall:
31 The talebearer turns good into evil; with a spark he sets many coals afire.	31 For he lieth in wait, and turneth good into evil, and in things worthy praise will lay blame upon thee.
32 The evil man lies in wait for blood, and plots against your choicest possessions.	32 Of a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled: and a sinful man layeth wait for blood.
33 Avoid a wicked man, for he breeds only evil, lest you incur a lasting stain.	33 Take heed of a mischievous man, for he worketh wickedness; lest he bring upon thee a perpetual blot.
34 Lodge a stranger with you, and he will subvert your course, and make a stranger of you to your own household.	34 Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will disturb thee, and turn thee out of thine own.